forbes



'UNITED srarns4 PATENT OFFICE.,

J. T. FORBES, 0F COBOURG, CANADA WESL BEDSTEAD FOR INVALIDS.

Secication of Letters Patent No. 11,605, dated August 29, 1854.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J. T. FORBES, of Cobourg, Canada West, have invented certain Improvements inV Invalid-Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings.

Figure 1 is a top view of the bedstead; Fig. 2, a bottom view. Fig. 3 is a side view and Fig. 4 an end view of it. Fig. 5 represents the canvas bottom.

Underneath the side rail b, Zn, there is a driving shaft c, c, to which is attached a crank d. This shaft carries near the middle of the rail two bevel wheels e e which gear into the bevel wheels f and g. The bevel wheel f is on a horizontal rock shaft la h which is at right angles with the shaft c, c, the bevel wheel g is on a horizontal rock shaft which -is parallel with the shaft h, 71,. From the rock shaft 71 it, extend two arms or supports e, 7c, toward the foot rail Z of the bedstead, the ends of which arms are provided with little rollers m, m. From the rock shaft z' extend two arms n a toward the head rail of the bedstead and their ends are linked to the lower part of supporting rods p p the upper ends of which are linked to the head board of the bed.

Two horizontal arms G G connected by a rod s pass through slots of the foot rail, turn around vertical pivots in said slots. By turning properly the knob w on the outer end of one of the arms g the inner ends of the arms g g which serve as supports to the foot board can be withdrawn from underneath the foot board. The head board A is linked in w to the cross rail D, so that it can be turned upward. The second board B is linked in v to the same cross rail D so that it also can be turned upward. To the lower edge of the board B is linked to a the third board 0 so that it can be turned ldownward. The fourth or foot board E is linked in t to the board c so that it can be turned upward. When the patient wants to have the head board raised the crank el is to be turned in the proper direction thereby turning the bevel wheels and the rock shafts. The rising of the arms n n and p p will elevate the head board A to any desired inclination. The arms 7c lo, will have descended during the motion, but the foot board is still kept in its horizontal position by the sup orting arms g g. By then withdrawing t e arms g g the boards C and E will be lowered and will be forced to rest against the arms 7c, 76, and rollers m m. By

rising of'the head board. By this means,

the patient is brought into a sitting position. The lower end of a string m can be attached to the knob of the crank d. Its upper end is fastened to the end of an arm y extending from the rock shaft .a which rock shaft is supported from the upper rails of the bedstead. A string B is fastened to the end of another arm L which extends from the rock shaft a.

The lower end of the string B is within reach of the patients hand and by pulling it the arm L will be turned with it the rock shaft a, with this the arm' y. Thereby the string will be drawn upward and the crank d will be set -in motion and operate the boards as above described. Toward the upper end of the bedposts there is placed the two shafts G G parallel with the smaller side of the bed; they carry the bevel-wheels I-I, L, which gear into the bevel wheels I, K. These wheels I, K, are on a shaft F which is parallel with the longer side of the bed, this shaft F can be revolved by means of a crank. Thereby the shafts G G will also be revolved. Four cords are fastened to and wound around the shafts G G. The other ends of these cords are attached to horizontal frame j and keep it suspended above the bed. When the patient is wanted to be removed the canvas N is to be placed on his side and he to be rolled on it. Then by properly revolving the shaft F and shafts G G the frame j is to be lowered until it rests on the bed the patient being within the frame. The loop holes P are then to be slipped over the pins` Q, and then the patient can be elevated together with the frame by means of again revolving the shafts G G, to allow airing, cleaning and making up the bed.

I claim In combination with the arrangement of the said shaft, gear and rock shafts, the rock shaft (Z) with its attachments (a, d, y) by which the invalid can move the head and foot boards himself.

J. T. FORBES.

Witnesses:

T. CAMPBELL, CH. L. SLINKMANNT. 

